Weather impacts Team P.E.I.’s travel plans to Scotties

Sarah Fullerton, third stone with the Robyn MacPhee rink, calls a shot during play in the provincial Scotties Tournament of Hearts at the Silver Fox Curling and Yacht Community Complex in January.

ST. CATHARINES, Ont. – Team P.E.I.’s experience at the 2017 Scotties Tournament of Hearts got off to an early start.

The Robyn MacPhee rink from the Charlottetown Curling Complex was scheduled to fly out of Charlottetown on Thursday, but those travel plans got pushed up a day to avoid another P.E.I. snowstorm.
“It was a little bit different (Wednesday) travelling separately, but we will be excited once everybody gets here,” said MacPhee in a phone interview Wednesday night.
MacPhee, third stone Sarah Fullerton and lead Michelle McQuaid had already landed in St. Catharines, and second stone Meaghan Hughes arrived later in the evening. The team’s first game is Saturday night.
“It never fails to storm the week of the Scotties,” chuckled MacPhee.

The Robyn MacPhee rink from the Charlottetown Curling Complex was scheduled to fly out of Charlottetown on Thursday, but those travel plans got pushed up a day to avoid another P.E.I. snowstorm.
“It was a little bit different (Wednesday) travelling separately, but we will be excited once everybody gets here,” said MacPhee in a phone interview Wednesday night.
MacPhee, third stone Sarah Fullerton and lead Michelle McQuaid had already landed in St. Catharines, and second stone Meaghan Hughes arrived later in the evening. The team’s first game is Saturday night.
“It never fails to storm the week of the Scotties,” chuckled MacPhee.

Experience
With all team members, including fifth player Rebecca Jean MacDonald, having previous experience at the Canadian women’s curling championship, Team P.E.I. knows what to expect.
“With all of us being here before, it helps to know the schedule and there is a lot of stuff going on throughout the week,” said MacPhee. “It’s all good stuff, but it’s a busy week.
“We are well aware of the length of the week, it’s a bit of a grind and knowing what’s ahead of you is definitely a big help.”

Along with an 11-game round-robin schedule, there are media demands, autograph signings and interactions with fans by team members.
“There are a lot of off-ice activities,” said Fullerton. “There is not a lot of down time.”